Ryan Tannehill can't remain NFL's worst QB on third downs

Ryan Tannehill's supporters have plenty of excuses for why he was a bottom-tier starting quarterback in the NFL last season.

Tannehill was a rookie with 20 college starts at Texas A&M.

Tannehill needed to become familiar with the speed of the NFL game.

Tannehill didn't have the best weapons around him as a rookie.

The Dolphins didn't allow Tannehill to throw many passes in the red zone.

ALL of these excuses are accurate!

I've heard them all, and you've probably used them all to prop up the player South Florida hopes will become the Miami Dolphins' franchise quarterback.

But the excuses aren't important, or relevant for the 2013 season. What's relevant is what the Dolphins' second-year starter is doing to improve his 76.1 passer rating, which had him ranked the 27th best passer in 2012, and how he'll produce a winning record as Miami's starting quarterback.

PLENTY of improvement is needed considering Tannehill was the WORST third down passer in the NFL last season.

On football's MOST CRITICAL DOWN Tannehill completed 85-of-144 (59%) of his passes for 946 yards, throwing three touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The Dolphins converted 37.7 percent of the team's third downs last season, which ranked Miami 16th in the NFL.

Tannehill had a 65.3 passer rating on third down, and pedestrian quarterbacks like Blaine Gabbert, Brandon Weeden and even Mark Sanchez were better than him.

His rookie contemporaries clearly showed youth and inexperience has nothing to do with third down production. Seattle's Russell Wilson had a 96.2 quarterback rating on third down (5th best in NFL), Washington's Robert Griffin III has a 93.9 (7th best), and Colts quarterback Andrew Luck had a 75.5 passer rating (22nd) on third down.

Just to illustrate the gulf that exists at quarterback between New England and Miami it is important to point out that Tom Brady's 110.8 passer rating on third downs tied him with Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers for the NFL lead on third down efficiency.

Brady threw 13 touchdowns and one interception on third downs.

That's a great example of why he's a first ballot Hall of Fame quarterback who has never had a losing season.

I've watched Tannehill close the first week of camp and I've noticed he's locking in on his receivers, and is slow when it comes to pulling the trigger.

Again, it is early! Super early! We're talking about the first week of training camp, and the defense usually has the edge at this point.

Tannehill is working on gaining some comfort with his new weapons. He's carrying the leadership mantle for this franchise and that's no easy task.

But the only way last year's first-round pick - the supposed savior for the Dolphins - can move up from his position as a third-tier NFL quarterback is by drastically improving in his areas of weakness.

Telegraphs passes leads to turnovers, especially on third downs.

This video features every interception Tannehill threw last season. Do you notice the common thread?